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ACERACEAE

(Maple family)

Two genera comprising 111 species of trees and shrubs are found in northern temperate regions and on mountains in tropical regions (Mabberley 1987).

Acer palmatum Thunb. and other species are often planted as ornamental trees and shrubs. They are also popular as subjects for bonsai, a natural art form produced by artificially stunting the growth of the specimen.

Many species yield good timber. Acer saccharum Marshall and other species in eastern North America yield maple syrup.

The pollens of the anemophilous species, less commonly the amphiphilous and entomophilous species, are minor causes of pollinosis (Wodehouse 1971). Inhalation of fungal particles from maple bark (Acer L. spp.) can cause maple bark disease, a form of allergic alveolitis (Seaton & Morgan 1984).

Contact with the wood and also the pollen of some species may have on occasion produced dermatitis.

Acer L.

Maple

Species of Acer L., Tilia L. (fam. Tiliaceae), and certain other deciduous trees may become heavily infested with aphids living on the undersides of the leaves. Whilst feeding, these insects excrete a sugary liquid known as honeydew which falls from the trees as a fine rain. Large numbers of aphids may also fall from the trees. A case has been described where an elderly woman with suspected delusions of parasitosis (Ekbom's syndrome) who, after unknowingly sitting under a species of Acer during the summer months, complained of a sticky feeling and a crawling sensation caused by green insects on her skin (Mitchell 1975).

Maple is said to be a sensitising wood by (Weber 1953), repeated by (McCord 1958).

Acer macrophyllum Pursh

Big-Leaf Maple, Oregon Maple

The seeds are covered with spiny hairs that can penetrate and irritate the skin (Hebda 2003).

Acer negundo L.

(syn. Negundo aceroides Moench)

Box Elder Maple

The pollen of this and another species of maple has been implicated as a cause of airborne contact dermatitis by Lovell et al. (1955) who observed positive patch test reactions to "box elder pollen oil" and to "maple pollen oil" in two patients.

Acer pictum Thunb.

Nadkarni (1976) states that the leaves of this species are irritant.

Acer platanoides L.

Norway Maple

The wood was listed as irritant by (Hanslian & Kadlec 1966), probably from (Weber 1953).

Acer rubrum L.

Red Maple, Swamp Maple

An extract of the bark has been used for its astringent effect in the treatment of sore eyes by North American Indians (Wren 1975).

Acer saccharum Marshall

Sugar Maple

This species has been found to contain 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone which is a known contact allergen (Hausen 1978a).

References

• Hanslian L and Kadlec K (1966) Drevo z hlediska hygienického (VIII). Biologicky úcinné a málo úcinné dreviny. Drevo 21: 229-232.
• Hausen BM (1978a) Sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. V. 2,6-Dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone: occurrence and significance as a contact allergen. Contact Dermatitis 4: 204-213.
• Hebda R (2003) Plant profile: Acer macrophyllum. Menziesia 8(3): 14-15
• Lovell RG, Mathews KP and Sheldon JM (1955) Dermatitis venenata from tree pollen oils. A clinical report. Journal of Allergy 26(5): 408-414.
• Mabberley DJ (1987) The Plant-Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• McCord CP (1958) The toxic properties of some timber woods. Ind. Med. Surg. 27: 202.
• Mitchell JC (1975) Cutaneous effects from rain-tree honeydew and aphis insects. International Journal of Dermatology 14(10): 761-762.
• Nadkarni AK (1976) Dr. K. M. Nadkarni's Indian Materia Medica. With ayurvedic, unani-tibbi, siddha, allopathic, homeopathic, naturopathic & home remedies, appendices & indexes, Revised enlarged and reprinted 3rd edn, Vols 1 & 2. Bombay: Popular Prakashan [WorldCat] [url]
• Seaton A and Morgan WKC (1984) Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In: Morgan WKC and Seaton A (Eds) Occupational Lung Diseases, 2nd edn. pp. 564-608. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co.
• Weber LF (1953) Dermatitis venenata due to native woods. AMA Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology 67: 388-394.
• Wodehouse RP (1971) Hayfever Plants, 2nd revised edn. New York: Hafner Publishing Co.
• Wren RC (1975) Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. (Re-edited and enlarged by Wren RW). Bradford, Devon: Health Science Press [WorldCat] [url] [url-2]

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